Fires of the Past

I let out a deep sigh which didn't match my youthful age.

"Weak grey soul." She flinched - clearly caught off guard. But the worst was yet to come.

"No affinities." Her deep red eyes widened in surprise. There's still more though.

"Inferior mana pool." The nail on the coffin. She wrenched suddenly, her arms wrapping around her stomach before she burst out laughing uncontrollably.

"Hahahahaha! How unlucky! To be so talented but also so unlucky!" I could feel my face twitch in annoyance.

How rude. And you call yourself a teacher?

Nonetheless I tried to keep a somewhat neutral smile but anyone could tell I was irritated. After a good ten seconds of laughter she stopped and introduced herself.

"My name is Cindy. I'm a travelling mage looking for an apprentice. You didn't make the cut."

"Oh...so can you let me go back to my parents now?" is what I wanted to say but what I actually said was "Oh...okay." while continuing to nod along to her statements meekly.

Taking that as disappointment, Cindy continued. "Don't be disappointed just yet - you didn't make the cut but you have potential. And more importantly, I like you." She paused, suddenly switching the topic, "I can tell your evaluation is really getting to you boy so listen up.

That evaluation doesn't matter at all. If you work hard enough and earnestly desire to be a great magician - you can do it.

I've seen magicians with the same 'talentless' evaluation as you touch on the secrets of the apex of magic so don't be ashamed. You can make it there too.

If you can try you can succeed because the only way to fail is to stop trying."

Most of what she said I was mindlessly nodding to like an unskippable cutscene in a video game but her last comments resonated with me. Her words carried some weight to them since she seemed like a top notch mage.

Perhaps the earlier display of magic made me quite biased but I did believe her. That there really was great magicians she knew with the same evaluation as me.

Between the two of us, she was definitely more knowledgeable when it came to magic. Maybe someone with an evaluation like mine could still become a great magician. Seeing my conflicted expression, she sighed, even more heavily than I did earlier.

"I've changed my mind. What's your name boy?"

"It's Reno. Reno Frostworth."

"Worth? One of the Worth series? Just my luck."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing." She shrugged it off her tone switching to a serious one. "Reno - I want you to be my disciple." She stared directly at me her voice warm and sincere. The sudden switch in her voice caught me off guard.

So she's just a big softie. Maybe she'd actually make a good teacher.

I panicked - not knowing how to respond.

"Why do you seem hesitant?" She asked me but it seemed more like she was asking herself.

Maybe because you almost killed me earlier and literally held me hostage.

"I guess I forgot to show you why you should want to be my disciple. Fine I'll show off a little."

"No no no no I believe you. I saw that big wave you used earlier. I don't want to experience something like that again please."

"That? That was nothing." She said emotionlessly, like that wave I thought would definitely kill me was just a lowly afterthought.

Strangely enough, now that I'd calmed down it didn't seem like a bad idea for her to be my teacher. She's clearly insanely good at magic and her stunt earlier clearly wasn't malicious since that wave wasn't anything for her. Which is both cool and scary. Insanely scary.

Holding me hostage like she did also wasn't ideal but I could look past it if she taught me how to use magic like she did earlier. And kept her sincere, warm tone. That being said I had one more doubt. Something which made me feel unworthy.

"It's not about your ability, I know you're a super powerful magician. But why me? Aren't I...talentless?" I questioned hesitantly, voicing the one doubt I had left. I hadn't realised it but she had. She noticed extremely quickly. I had let a single evaluation decide my self worth.

I wasn't talented. Surely a mage like her should look for some genius or someone exceptional to match her ability.

A deep sigh echoed, followed by an 'oh boy'.

"Reno, come here." I listened and walked closer slightly. She reached out towards me and placed her arm on my right shoulder.

"Hmm, let me do the evaluation. I'll do it properly."

"I mean okay I don't think the result will change though...." I'm pretty sure Glyffe and Silvia did it the way it's supposed to.

"Wait, what is this—Superior soul strength, Rainbow soul quintuple element affinity , Boundless mana pool! You're a genius Reno!" Her voice was bursting with excitement and her expression portrayed the sense she'd encountered something she never would've expected.

"Pffft!" Without realising it I burst out laughing. "Cindy, lying isn't good." Her joke may have been in bad taste if I believed it but I got what she was trying to say. The evaluation is just arbitrary. It's not worth being hung up on it. It's all a bit ridiculous honestly.

Her eyebrows twitched at me seeing through her scheme, her fake excited smile fading, "Reno, has anyone ever told you that you're too smart to be a five year old?"

"You're the first." I chuckled - I was quite the perceptive five year old admittedly. "So which one of us should actually be auditioning for a role in the Cloud Theatre?" I continued jokingly.

Cindy flinched then began laughing too. "You got me." When the laughter faded I voiced my decision.

"If I become your disciple Cindy, can I become one of the greatest magicians in the world?" I looked at her dead in the eyes - the first time I'd willingly looked right into the inferno.

"Yes." Her reply was steady and full of confidence.

"Can I become the greatest?"

"No." Her reply was quick. "Because I'll be the greatest in the world. The number two spot is already taken too - so you'll have to settle for third Reno."

"Pffft! Okay Cindy - I want to be your disciple."

"Good. I want you to train hard and not rely on me too much. My number one philosophy is hard work beats talent. And now that you're my disciple it's your philosophy too."

"Yes, master!"

"I don't want to see you moping around because of your evaluation anymore. All those things are just labels, just words - they don't matter. They don't matter one single bit. Only you decide what you can and can't do. Nobody else can decide for you, not even me. Remember that."

"Okay, I will remember that!"

"Also just call me Cindy. It feels weird to be called master by someone so young." She cringed slightly.

"I'll leave you with this." She handed over to me a small book.

"This is called a coupled-book. I have a personal copy too. Right now they're both empty. Whatever you write in one is transferred to the other. It's a treasure. Write down any questions or problems you have when practicing your magic and I'll write back."

"Woah this thing is probably quite expensive right?"

"In this region - I'd say it's not cheap. Maybe one billion Teaves?"

"ONE BILLION?"

"Probably. Or was it a trillion?"

"..."

"Anyways, your parents are looking very worried now so I'll send you on your merry way. I'm sure they won't mind us having a little chat. I'll visit you later when I have time Reno - and formally become your teacher. Good luck Reno."

With those last words, like I'd warped back in time, the crowd and street vendors from before came back. A gust of wind blew by lifting me into the air where I easily noticed Glyffe and Silvia who were basically the epitome of panic right now.

Once the gust of wind brought me back to the ground floor, I charged straight towards them now that I knew where they were. I couldn't help but look back but she had disappeared like she was never there in the first place. With big strides I made my way towards them - their faces a mixture of surprise and gratefulness.

Silvia charged towards me and gave me a big heartfelt hug.

"Oh thank goodness." Silvia sighed heavily, her face the picture of exhaustion. "What happened Reno? Where were you?"

"Well I...I got lost. I just spaced out and then I didn't know where I was anymore. Luckily a young lady helped me find where you two where. I think she felt bad for me."

Their eyes widened at my explanation clearly they weren't expecting that.

"Sorry Reno it was our fault completely." Glyffe said sternly. "Are you okay?" He asked clearly very concerned. "That young lady didn't do anything to you right?"

"She held me hostage. I couldn't escape."

I was tempted to say that, but since Cindy was my teacher now, I didn't want to give her a bad reputation. Instead, I said, "No she didn't do anything weird she just gave me a free book and said to get going to not worry my parents."

It was only then that they noticed the small book in my hands, their expressions slightly puzzled. "Well it's good that nothing happened - cases of crimes or things like that are extremely rare in Butter Town so don't worry Reno." Silvia added - but I wasn't sure if she was reassuring me or herself.

Honestly, I kinda felt bad for how worried they were but it wasn't like it was their fault I was missing. Cindy probably used some sort of ability to keep me trapped there and to evade their detection.

"Stay close to me Reno. Promise me you won't let go of my hand."

"Okay mom, I promise." I look straight at her and promised as earnestly and sincerely as I possibly could.

"And remember Reno don't talk to strangers. Especially if they look or act weirdly and suspiciously. Not everyone out there is good and nice like that young lady you met." If only you knew Silvia.

"Reno, let me see the book she gave you." Glyffe asked doubtfully. He seemed unconvinced - or rather, cautious.

"Here, take it." I handed the coupled-book straight to Glyffe. I doubted he'd recognise it. He took it and flipped through it.

"It's empty?"

"Yes she said to write in it later about anything. Maybe something like a diary."

"Sure enough. I'll hold onto it for now Reno just in case - and then give it back once I've looked over it deeper at home. Do you want to keep it?"

"Yeah - I like the design. And a diary is a good idea I think."

Glyffe nodded but clearly he thought something was amiss. I did want to tell them the whole truth but I didn't want to worry them unnecessarily.

"Right, lets try to get back on track. From here the central area is just about a 2 minute walk. I've already planned which shops we'll visit. First we'll go to Stox's Blacksmith. Then we'll visit Clevio's Bookstore and finally Bridges Clothing store. Luckily they're quite close together to so we can visit them all one after the other quite easily." Silvia said changing the subject tacitly.

"Oh Glyffe needs a new sword I didn't realise. Now that I think about it his current one is quite worn out. How long have you been using that sword Glyffe?" I asked curiously.

"Good question. I think for about five years now. Come to think of it - I think that sword might even be older than you Reno, hahaha." Glyffe laughed amused.

"It is definitely older than Reno. You got it when we moved to Butter region - when I was pregnant."

"Oh yeah, I remember now. So I guess that sword is six years old then."

"Look we're here." Silvia pointed to a sign above an archway a few meters away. The sign read 'Welcome To The Central Area' In lovely cursive writing. I was getting excited just thinking about what could be in the Central Area.

If even the outer area was full of unique innovations and designs, I wondered just what the central area hid.

As soon as I stepped into the central area I noticed an eye-catching structure. You couldn't miss it. An extremely large, beautiful fountain. The water flowed down it fluidly and the pearly white architecture gleamed in the sun.

Surrounding the fountain was a varied array of shops.

Blacksmiths , alchemists, convenience stores, clothing stores, food stalls, restaurants, library, textile shops, bookstores. All of these spread around the fountain creating a visual treat for anybody interested in shopping and commercial areas.

So this was the central area. It was definitely much smaller than the outer area with no houses and random buildings. This area was strictly commercial. For businesses only. There were no stalls and impromptu markets and street performers like there was in the outer area. It seemed like a permit of sort and a building was needed to sell here. And a building?

The area was still extremely busy but it was clear the target audience for this area was more towards middle to upper class citizens of Butter Town.

"It's beautiful." I paused and just admired the scenery before me. The fountain was particularly captivating.

"Right, let's get going - you'll have more time to see the fountain up close later. Stox's blacksmith store is just here on the left." Silvia pointed to the first store on our left.

The storefront was fairly refined but looked a tad shabby compared to the extremely clean and carefully designed shops around it. The big sign at the top read "Stox's Blacksmith".

We moved closer, through the stone walkway, and the Melodia grass beneath the entrance to the store sung gently. Glyffe went up to open the door but he paused slightly. His expression of shock quickly shifted to realisation with a knowing chuckle.

The handle was scorched.

Not slightly warm—scorched. As if someone had grabbed it with a flaming hand not too long ago. The wood around it was darkened, the faintest curl of smoke was drifting upwards from the handle's edge.

I looked at Silvia, who raised an eyebrow. "Stox always was a little...experimental."

Before I could reply, a muffled crash sounded from inside, followed by a large clang of metals.

Silvia didn't move. She just smiled faintly, as if this was perfectly normal.

Glyffe creaked the door open, our merry family stepping into the Blacksmith's store. What greeted me on the other side was a different world...

A world of swords.

Longswords, claymores, and katanas lined the right. Daggers, scimitars, and rapiers to the left. Edge to edge, perfectly aligned, each blade whispered the tale of a thousand battles.

Between the twin walls of steel ran a single aisle of glass cases. Inside them rested the blacksmith's finest creations. Some swords glowed faintly. Others, violently. A few appeared plain, while others seemed like relics barely resisting the weight of centuries. But one thing was clear: every single one was extraordinary.

To the left stood what looked like a workshop, filled with tools and half-finished blades. To the right, the iron counter marked the end of the aisle.

Behind it stood a man built like a siege weapon.

The giant.

"Welcome to Stox's Blacksmith shop." A deep resonant voice boomed from in front of us. The ground trembled beneath us and something in my chest did too.

Humans can have voices that deep? I shuddered at the thought.

He stood approximately eight feet tall, a towering figure straight out of human legend. His skin bore a deep, sunbaked hue. Not one of natural heritage, but from decades of persistent exposure to naked flames. Soot clung to the folds of his heavy leather apron, which bore the blackened marks of fire and iron.

Beneath the apron, he wore a thick, short-sleeved tunic, its fabric singed at the edges. His broad arms stretched the tunic taut. Burn marks trailed down from his arms. Those were his battle scars.

A thick belt wrapped around his waist, weighed down by tongs, a hammer, and a few steel tools I couldn't even name. Streaks of charcoal crossed his cheeks leaving only his gleaming bald head untouched by burns.

This wasn't just any ordinary blacksmith.

This was a man who had given not just his time, but his body also, to the forge.

"How's it going, old man? Been a while, hasn't it!" Glyffe grinned wide as he called out to Stox, his tone relaxed and familiar. From the way he spoke, it was obvious they had a history.

Stox bent down, looming over him like a collapsing mountain. He cleared his throat as he looked Glyffe up and down. He was squinting, as if trying to piece together a distant memory.

"Don't tell me you've gone senile already, old man," Glyffe teased.

Stox's eyes lit up briefly, recognition sparking before the light faded again.

What was that just now?

"Oh. It's just you." His voice was gravelly. "You've grown, troublemaker... you look a lot more—" He paused. His eyes flicked past Glyffe to where Silvia and I stood. "—content."

Troublemaker?

I glanced up at Silvia. She was smiling, clearly amused. Like she'd expected this sort of reaction. I looked up at Glyffe, hoping for an explanation. He just scratched his head sheepishly.

"C'mon, Stox, don't go embarrassing me in front of my kid," Glyffe said. "Right, I almost forgot. I got married and had a kid. This is my wife, Silvia. Silvia Frostworth."

He introduced her with a small bow, a quiet gesture of respect. I remembered reading somewhere that bowing like that was a custom from the Far East. In Dwarven Territory.

Stox examined Silvia. "So you're the one who married this troublema—" He caught himself. "—this kid of mine. Thanks for sticking with him. I know how much of a pain he can be."

His voice cracked just a little. Just enough. A flicker of warmth surfaced in his eyes but it was gone as quickly as it came. He nodded, a stiff but meaningful bow.

Kid of mine...? Wait. Was he talking about Glyffe? Does that mean... he's my grandfather? What!?

"Thank you, Uncle," Silvia said with a graceful bow, deeper than Stox's. "It was I who was lucky to meet your son."

Uncle?

Then is he really...

"Ah. AHAHAHAHA!" Stox burst out laughing, loud as an avalanche. "Did you hear that, Glyffe? She said she was the lucky one! AHAHAHAHA!"

He clapped a massive hand on Glyffe's back. The wooden floor under him cracked but, Glyffe didn't flinch. It was like he'd been hit by a mountain and thought nothing of it. Just a slight eyebrow twitch in annoyance was all.

Silvia just smiled. She didn't seem surprised. Glyffe must've warned her about Stox's… love language.

"Ahem. Moving on," Glyffe said quickly. He turned to me and rested a hand on my shoulder, guiding me forward. He carried a slight sense of apprehension, one I hadn't seen before in Glyffe.

"This is my son," he said. "His name is Reno. Reno Frostworth."

Even I was getting nervous, I couldn't imagine what Glyffe was feeling.

Stox's expression shifted. From surprise to hesitation and then to something unreadable. He let out a long, quiet sigh.

"You waited this long to introduce your son to me?" Stox's voice rumbled like distant thunder. His expression twisted. Not in rage, but disappointment. "Years without a visit, and now you show up with a wife and a child? Have you no shame, boy?" "a wife and child"

The words were harsh, but I felt no venom in them. Just the weight of time, and a father's relief disguised as anger. Like he had to say it, as part of some ritual. A scolding handed down not out of bitterness, but out of habit. Out of love.

"I'm sorry," Glyffe said, lowering his head. "A lot happened and—

"A lot happened!?" Stox snapped, his voice rising into a roar. "Who taught you to come up with excuses like this?"

Glyffe froze. Just for a second, he looked younger. Like all those years melted away, and he was a boy again, being scolded over a scorched sword or skipped chore.

"You're right," he said, his voice quieter now. "I've got no excuse. Forgive me, Stox."

Stox grunted. "As long as you know." A long beat of silence followed, thick and awkward. The air felt heavier somehow, like even it didn't want to speak.

I stepped forward, trying to cut through the tension. "Excuse me… sir Stox. Are you my grandfather?"

His eyes widened, just slightly, and for the first time, he really looked at me. There was no heat in his gaze now. Only something older. Softer. Like he was staring through me, at someone from a long time ago.

"You know, Glyffe," Stox said as he peeled off his gloves and stepped forward. His forge-warmed hands, reached out and ruffled my hair just like Glyffe had done before we set out. It was a simple gesture, but it touched me.

"He looks just like you did."

Glyffe smiled, and just like that, the tension in the room melted. I had asked Stox the question, but it was Glyffe who answered.

"Yes, Reno," he began, "he's—

"Not your grandfather," Stox interrupted. Glyffe blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What?"

Huh?

Stox didn't raise his voice. If anything, it dropped an octave. Calm, sure, final.

"Let's not confuse the boy. You know I'm not his grandfather by blood."

Ahh. So that was it.

He turned back to me, and this time his expression was clear: respectful, even proud.

"Reno, right? You seem like a sharp one. Mature."

"Thank you, sir," I said, bowing slightly.

The gesture made him pause, like he wasn't expecting it. Then he gave a small, satisfied smile.

"Alright then. Let me tell you a little story, Reno."

Glyffe's expression tightened the moment Stox said that. "Wait, Stox. I was going to tell him... when he was older. I don't think he's ready yet."

"Come on," Stox snorted. "The boy can read a room better than you ever could. This isn't just for him anyway - it's for your wife too."

Glyffe leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowed. Stox crossed his arms, a tinge of fire returning to his tone.

"And besides… how could you tell them the full story… when you only know half of it?"

Glyffe's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean I only know half—

"If you shut up and listen, you might find out," Stox said flatly. That was the nail in the coffin.

Silvia covered her mouth, eyes wide. I must've been wearing the same expression.

Glyffe opened his mouth, hesitated, then closed it. He gave a reluctant nod.

"Good." Stox's smile was the closest I'd seen to warm all day. "You've grown. Back then, you'd have argued till your lungs gave out. Maybe all those years at the academy and wherever else finally knocked some sense into you."

Glyffe let out a dry chuckle.

"Listen." Stox's voice dropped an octave, solid and unwavering. "Reno, your father—your husband, Silvia—Glyffe Proxia, was an orphan. 'Proxia' isn't a family name. It's the name of the Far East orphanage he was raised in."

My thoughts stalled.

…What?